The President's Men and Women: DOST chief tapped as problem solver

MANILA, Philippines – The newly appointed science and technology secretary intends to use his training and experience as an inventor and engineer to solve some of the country’s recurring problems like floods and traffic.

Science Secretary Mario Montejo said he will fully implement President Aquino’s instructions for him to develop and use locally sourced technologies to solve the perennial headaches of Filipinos.

A licensed mechanical engineer, Montejo said the President wants the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to become “a repository of knowledge and expertise” and use technology to find solutions to problems.

He believes in the engineering philosophy that “the use of science and technology for the betterment of society in terms of better products, services and solutions to its problems is always a sound business model.”

“I’m more of an inventor. My business evolves around my invention and engineering design but I’m not selling my designs,” Montejo told The STAR.

The 57-year-old DOST chief was part of the team that designed the Water Fun amusement park, the first of its kind that featured slides, waves, etc.

He also designed the first robotic car park in Frontera Verde in Pasig City.

Montejo said he would prioritize the completion of an effective early flood warning system before the La Niña phenomenon starts in August.

“We are fast-tracking it... it should be operational by mid-August or before the possible onset of La Niña,” he said.

Aside from the flood warning system to be installed along the Marikina River, Montejo said the DOST would also come up with other cost-effective flood mitigation projects in the coming months.

To ease traffic especially in highly urbanized areas, he said the DOST is also planning to establish a mass transit system that would cost only about 20 to 25 percent of the price of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT).

He said they would use local resources and ask the assistance of local fabricators.

To address power problems, the DOST would also establish more wind farms that would cost only about half of the price of private-run windmills.

“We will design the windmill, make a prototype and offer this to local fabricators,” Montejo said. “We use the same formula. We rely on our own locally developed technology.”

He said the DOST also aims to strengthen industries in a bid to provide more jobs to science graduates in the country.

“To increase S and T people, because I came from the private sector, my solution is always market-based,” he said. “The government should create the right environment for business that will cater to these people.”

Prior to his appointment as DOST secretary, Montejo was president of Northwest Steel, which manufactures steel poles, ship-to-shore gantry cranes and mega tent structures.

Montejo obtained his BS Mechanical Engineering degree from University of the Philippines-Diliman in 1975.

He is married to Mariez, a nutritionist, with whom he has four children – Ian (30), Katrina (28), Kookie (27) and Kiko (26).

He was also the president of Tree Top Adventure Philippines Inc., which is involved in the development of eco-tourism theme parks.

He was one of the “100 Outstanding Alumni Engineers of the Century” awarded by the University of the Philippines’ College of Engineering this year.

In 1989, Montejo received the Gold Medal Award for Creative Research from the Filipino Inventors Society.

He said Filipino inventors should not stop with the creation process, but should also think of how to sell their products.